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The template of the meme consists of two WikiHow stock images: one with someone looking at a bottle of pills with a label that says "Hard to Swallow Pills" and another with the pills already in the person's hand, ready to be ingested.

People download it, slap a text of what they think is a universal truth on the second picture, and upload it back on the Internet, waiting for upvotes. And we often have to give it to them. Quite a few of these memes capture some universal law, most of which we know but don't want to accept. Like, "some of your problems are your own fault, and won't get better until you actively do something about it" or "you can't make someone love you."

Bored Panda has compiled some of the most popular Hard to Swallow Pills, so continue scrolling, check out the memes, and upvote your favorites.

#1

Hard-To-Swallow-Pills

backwards_savage_ Report

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Jo Cooper
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my favourite quotes; going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to the garage makes you a car.

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Clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst Mary Lamia, Ph.D., thinks that the notion that one is “in denial” seems to have taken on a life of its own as an agent of many ills and as a catchphrase for people who dismiss the implications of their behavior.

"Although denial is considered to be a defense often used by people with addictive tendencies, its attributions reach beyond those struggling with substances," Lamia pointed out. "Denial is also attributed to people who do not want to acknowledge that bad stuff is occurring in their lives, such as those who are attempting to cope with a tumultuous relationship, a life-threatening illness, obesity, a loss, or anything else that one may attempt to disavow."

Sure, we can deny a fact, deny responsibility, deny the impact of our actions, or even deny what is really going on by hiding from our feelings. But according to Lamia, when we use denial to defend ourselves or cope with what we feel, we contradict the reality of a situation or attempt to adjust to a circumstance by neglecting its impact. However, the extent of someone’s denial may not really be the issue at hand.

"What’s important is not that people recognize their denial, but that they are able to accept what they are feeling that leads to the denial in the first place," Lamia explained. "If someone excessively and habitually uses alcohol to medicate their anxiety, for example, we might emphasize their attempts to dismiss the harm that their use of alcohol will cause, rather than focus on the emotions they feel that motivate their denial. If that person stops drinking, one would hope the emotions that were formerly hidden by denial, which often have to do with shame, would be exposed and accepted by the individual."

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#3

Hard-To-Swallow-Pills

theschoolofsocialvalue Report

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postboredom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor people have to work even harder than others, just to get a daily meal and shelter

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We not only use denial to hide from any negative emotion, including shame, fear, guilt, or distress but to mute positive emotions as well. "Sometimes feeling positively may be just as threatening as negative feelings. We may want to deny the reality of our emotions, because accepting a reality that is uncomfortable, painful, or incongruous to what we expect means we must also alter our perception of ourselves. Thus, if you are in denial, perhaps you are simply trying to ignore the truth about what you actually feel, rather than about what you are doing or thinking."

But if you want to move forward, you have to swallow the truth.

#5

Hard-To-Swallow-Pills

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postboredom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This applies to both guys and gals. Nobody is as kind as they think themselves are.

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#7

Hard-To-Swallow-Pills

rexxar-tc Report

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Daria B
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's even harder to swallow the problems that are NOT your own fault, but it's UP TO YOU to clean someone else's poop to save your a*s.

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#8

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xrancorx Report

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ChimeraBubbles
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like this one. Re-evaluate your worldview every so often, visit other places, talk to people from other communities, read books, and so on. It's character building too.

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#10

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reddit.com Report

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Monday
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm all for praying for those in need if that's what you believe in, but send a donation with that prayer.

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#12

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Daria B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True. And the nearer the end, the more I think of it. Viruses don't plan according to human made calendars. This could go on and on. And even after it's gone, the damage repair will still take a while.

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#15

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dairyfreediva Report

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postboredom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the one thing every teenager (including me) has to understand. Not everyone has to like you, nor do they have to hate you. We just gotta let it be.

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#17

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H Edwards
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Smoking is a good example. Children of smokers are much more likely to take it up themselves.

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#19

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istherenofuckingusernameleft Report

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Ray Martin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Possibly so, but believing that the Earth is flat, or that vaccinations don't work does make you stupid and deserving of ridicule.

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#21

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TheLloydGross Report

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The three big things needed in a relationship are trust, compromise and respect. Of course there are more like having each others back, liking the other person etc. Relationships are hard work, you need to make the effort to help it grow.

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#29

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kid_r0cK Report

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Monday
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And it'll keep hurting for the rest of your life....but it'll still have been worth it to have them in your life for a while.

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Dilly Millandry
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes! At least you know you did all you could to give them a great life. Without you they may not have had that. The pain is hard to bear but they are worth it.

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Vorknkx
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cat, in my case. Getting a new one helps, but she is getting pretty old now...

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Colin L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Grief is the price we pay for love. I feel my losses still, and I will continue to cherish the time we had until I die.

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Clever Dog
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ill never stop loving that boy. Love is love no matter what the species.

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Lilith Hollis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We will all meet again on The Rainbow Bridge. )0(. I had to put out dog down two years ago as he had lymphoma and my husband and I agreed no more pets ever as it's so very sad and heartbreaking but 3 months on in strolled Patrick a grey leopard Bengal kitten my daughter thought we were to sad he stole my heart. I have never owned a cat in my life and I know the day will come and I am going to be heartbroken all over again but they are worth every second of their live.

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Clove Kentwell
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My family had to put our dog Oliver down in march, and i still expect to see him when I go downstairs in the morning. We've had him my whole life, and I really feel like I took him for granted.

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Tisha Breaux
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Today... my dog is going to die today. He has lymphoma and my husband I and I have decided that his time has come. :(

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Dilly Millandry
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OH, Heartbreaking. You have my deepest sympathy. Been there a few times myself and it is never, ever easy. You'll always have their love, that never leaves you.

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J.G
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ohhh, I felt this. I just had to have mine put down, in July. He was 13 and a half years old and the best companion. He was so smart and sweet. I miss him, every day. Love you always, Groucho.

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Vicki Perizzolo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yes and if you're a smart person you know the next rescue will be amazing and thankful and you'll do it all again because you can! Every rescue is deserving of all you can give...it's NOT a replacement, it's an addition!

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Charlotte Stewart
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is just depressing, and obvious enough to be completely unnecessary for this list.

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Alonso Victoria
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Russian Otaku your humor is so dark that anish kapoor wanted to buy it.

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Brent Fisher
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's worse when the government invades the wrong house and sentences your dog to death by firing squad and you see it die before your eyes and they are looking for one small mistake to send you to prison. (One guy's dog was lynched and he got in trouble for a glass pipe with marijuana residue in it). There is no safe cigarette and there exists no beneficial government.

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lara
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The greater the love, the greater the pain. You pup has to leave you, celebrate their life by saving another pup. It is a celebration of your pup's life to love again.

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CincyReds
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know if I will be able to bear this pain. I love my dog more than I like most people. He is truly my best friend. I take him everywhere I can with me, even 5 minutes up the road, just so he can enjoy the car ride and I can enjoy him.

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Sue Clifford
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am writing through tears and agree with most but I would do it all again to have her back.

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Fred Burrows
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have one dog left of seven . Each time was just as painful . Even the one that made it to 19 years old .

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Raul Acosta
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

god damn!!! this one hurt like hell..........................damn ninja cutting onios

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Kent Fishburn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks for that little reminder. Here's one for you...nah, I'm not that cruel and there is no need to stress you with the obvious. (teachable moment)

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Just Curious
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Um, no offense, but forget your dog... how about your mom, dad, spouse, etc, etc?

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Louloubelle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a different kind of pain. No less painful. And until you lose that most important person in your life, you'll never know the difference.

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Jessica Nametz
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep, one of the hardest days of my life was when I put my 12 year old Sheprador down...

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#30

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digitaldegenarate Report

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Daria Z
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A hospital in my city has recently received a complaint from the family of a man saved from covid complications. Apparently, they didn't like that the doctor who saved him had tattoos and a nose ring. Isn't it bizarre?

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Note: this post originally had 65 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.